Mansfield, the Christ Church Law Society, takes its name from Lord Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench 1756-88 and a scholar at College from 1723 to 1727.

Earl Mansfield is most remembered for his judgments in two key cases which were to shape English law for years to come, the most notable of which was Somersett's Case. His judgment was widely misinterpretted as emancipating all slaves within the British Isles and the unintended ramifications of this helped precipitate the abolition of slavery by Act of Parliament in 1833.

The second case was that of Jones v Randall (1774) in which he stated emphatically the prevailing conservative orthodoxy of the time that the scope of the law extended to enforce moral standards:

"Whatever is contra bonos mores et decorum the principles of our laws prohibit and the King's Court as the general censor and guardian of the public morals is bound to restrain and punish."

The Society was formed in 1991, and is run by a Committee of the law students comprising a President, Secretary and Mistress or Master of Moots. The programme of events has changed from year to year but the highlight of the calendar remains the Annual Dinner.

This year we are pleased to announce that a broad range of events have been organised and a number of members of the legal and political professions have kindly agreed to come to Christ Church to deliver talks. See the Termcard for more details.